Well, here we are in Tarkwa. It has been an amazing time, and with a different flavour from the previous villages. As we approached the place, we prayed for an open heaven.

We had been delayed leaving Kondoa by the discovery that the Landcruiser had a flat tyre. We were so glad that the puncture had not caused an accident as we came back in the dark yesterday night.

The road to Tarkwa runs through tsetse fly country. So the windows got wound up completely and we had to endure the sweltering heat because there was no air-conditioning in the vehicles. Imagine the relief when after ¾ hour of bouncing up and down in a turkish bath the windows could be wound down and the cool air rushed into the vehicle.

The welcome was enthusiastic and sincere - they had been waiting in the heat for three hours so it was gracious of them. Two of the women were seated at either end of a large log and they were using something like to enormous double-ended wooden spoons with which they made interesting sounds by scraping them back and forth on the log in time to the singing. We were drawn into the circle of dancers, who swayed and sang a welcome song.

After chai at the pastor’s house, it was over to the church. Ian taught on the Holy Spirit and we invited people to come forward and receive prayer for the in filling of the Holy Spirit. About 75 people came forward. Many were obviously touched by the power of God. One woman manifested a demonic presence and we partnered with the the local pastors to try and free her, but there was something stopping her getting free easily, so we decided to pray for her less publicly the next day.

We went back to the “motel” for dinner and a much-needed night’s sleep. It was lit by electricity from solar panels. I was alarmed the next day by the owner grabbing the bare wires of a flight to twist the together to make it work, but Ian reassured me that there would be only about 5 volts so no danger. Still, bare wires gave me the heeby jeebies!

Today was quite packed. Breakfast at the pastor's house then over to the church. I had re-written the talk on forgiveness last night as Ian slept. I decided to dramatise the reading from Matthew 18, with Bishop Given playing the king, Peter playing the unforgiving servant, Anne the servant who owed a small amount, and two pastors playing the jailers. It went really well, with Moses reading the scripture in Swahili and one small child crying because Peter was being treated so roughly at the end.

Afterwards, after answering some questions, I led them in repentance from unforgiveness and then in forgiving people who had hurt them.

Then Ian taught on healing while I, Peter, Anne and a local pastor helped to deliver the woman from yesterday. It was easy because we followed Derek Prince’s instructions for people to self-deliver. It was good to have a framework as well as Anne’s words of knowledge ministry bring to light things that would otherwise not have been dealt with.

We re-joined the team after the deliverance and helped mop up the last of the healing prayer engagements. One old blind guy was delighted when his arm started to be pain-free and he could lift it above his head. Several kids started to pray for people with good success. Lindy made great strides learning healing prayer. We encouraged many to pray for others before they were completely healed and those praying received more healing as they prayed. That allowed the local people to participate in healing, grow in confidence and discover God would work with them to heal people too. As they gained confidence, we released them in pairs to pray for others who were waiting. All in all, about 30 people were healed today. Only about 3 people had not gotten up to receive healing, so we could not invite others to come and pray. It was a bit chaotic, but fun!

We finished at about 3:20 pm and dismissed the crowd instead of doing the third session. On the way home, Ian fired up the iPad and played “10,000 reasons” and we all sang lustily. Moses loves that song, having learned it on a recent trip to the UK.

After we drove home, I did some foot-washing and refreshed the team. Ian had done it for me and I wanted to pass it on. Just with wet wipes, but very refreshing. Cleaning sandals as well was a good idea because they get so incredibly dusty hereabouts.

Sunday 28 SeptThe cold which has been passed around the team has finally hit Lindy and Anne. They are sharing a room so if one is coughing, the other will be soon. I woke at 4am and found that I had omitted to bring either Otrivine nasal spray or anti-histamine to stop post-nasal drips. So I had to resort to prayer (!) After that, we settled down and though I was awake for quite a time listening to the cocks crow, I heard only two coughs, which was quite a change.

This morning’s church service was a joy! So celebrational, as we heard from 13 people about how God had healed them yesterday. The congregation burst into applause after each testimony and the sound man gave a short burst of loud praise music at the same time.

The woman who had been delivered shone with joy as she gave testimony of how good God had been to her. The old man who had his shoulder healed was determined to come and testify even though he was still blind.

Ian taught on dealing with curses and bondages and prayed over the whole congregation to set them free. Then thanks and appreciations were expressed all around, and we again gave Bibles to the three congregations represented at the service.

After the service, we were asked to pray further for some individuals. A swollen foot went down at least 50% and pain had virtually gone within 5 minutes while pain in a lady’s ear radiating down her neck went.

Ian was asked to pray for a blind man at the end of the service, after his patience and energy had run out :-) Praise God, the cataracts diminished and the old man was thrilled that he could see the Bishop’s face and tell what colour his shirt was as well as how many fingers were being held up for him to see.

We came home today over the same rough road and tsetse country with joy at what we had been able to be a part of and the good results we saw.

Off we went to the south today to this village "Camp of the Nyasa." The church building is only 2 years old, typically just walls but with a useful loose thatching of millet to protect against the sun, and an impressive us of solar power (power panel, battery, invertor) to drive the sound system!

It was a baptism service followed by a seminar - we were asked to give a summary of the main conference. We took the opportunity as at the other villages to present 5 Bibles for use in the parish - as usual these were received with cheers and clapping - they value the Word of God.

Ian was on baptism duty again, about 10 people mainly babies and children and one very old woman.Then we were given two teaching sessions. Ian taught on the practice of healing prayer. We gave out Words of Knowledge, all of which were taken up and then formed four groups to pray with a member of our team, an interpretor, and a local catechist or pastor - so they could gain experience.Our count afterwards shows we prayed for about 50 people, with about 45 indicated they were healed. Praise the Lord.

The second session was on Curses and Bondages. At the end we called up those who felt they had a problem in this area and prayed for them altogether.

After a meal at 6pm and many goodbyes we were back on two hour journey to Kondoa.

We were encouraged; they were healed and/or encouraged; they were all taught how to do it and their leaders given practice. Praise the Lord!

Friday 18 –Monday 21The first village safari: We were sent due East from Kondoa to visit 3 villages. The first was a new Masai church at Mutanyele. It had been planted about 6 years before, in this village of about 100 people. We were met at the roadside by their choir who quickly climbed aboard and even borrowed hats as they sang us into the village. Among the children, were some boys dressed in black with white paint markings – this year’s circumcision group. They dress like that for 40 days to distinguish them so they can be honoured. The boys of a year group form a lifelong bound. After morning tea with goat liver, we came to the baptism and healing service. We were introduced and welcomed. A young man got up and said they had stopped the Bishop when he was driving past and asked him to come to them. They needed healing and deliverance and wanted his help. He had promised to send some people to them and here we were. (Bishop Given had told us this too.)Andrew preached giving the invitation for healing. Then Ian was asked to baptise their 8 candidates both adults and children. The first was a fine looking, young man, Yeremia, then another young man, some babies, and before long we were past 8, 15, 20 until we reached 28 people! There were only around 50 there. Apparently, Yeremia’s example made it possible for some other adults to come forward. Then we got onto healing. With four queues formed, we prayed for about 34 people with about 25 reporting a healing. What is more, another two were baptised during the healings taking the total to 30 baptised that day! The pastor was very joyful.

Next we were asked to bless the cattleyards. These corrals of thorn bushes keep the herd and flocks safe at night. So we blessed one, then a second, then a tramp to a new house to bless it, then another five cattleyards. During this time, Yeremia told me that we were special friends because I had baptised him. He wanted me to say longer in Tanzania, so we explained I have responsibilities to my own congregation. He then said, if I came back, I should contact him and he would come to meet me in Kondoa. He also asked me to pray that might go to Bible School to learn more. Praise God! I believe this young man will be a future church leader.

Finally, we were served the goat stew and rice they had prepared for us and we left late but rejoicing for the next village where we were to stay the next two nights.

In Mwaikisabi, Helen and I were accommodated in the Pastor’s house being given his bedroom. The rest of the team were in two rooms in another house. It was a comfortable bed. Next morning, being Sunday, we preached at Church services. Andrew, at Mwaikisabi and I at Wisuzaje – which we had visited 2 years ago. On arrival, we were taken to a Masai encampment near the village for Chai. One of the wives said to Anne, “You prayed for me last time you were here!” I preached on the end of Mark 6, encouraging them to come forward for prayer. We gave out Words of Knowledge with the following number of acknowledgements each:Headache right temple (4)4th Finger (0)Lower back (4)Right elbow (2)Left foot (2)Elderly man with a stick and a foot problem (2)Headache at back of head (2)Right Cheek (1)Back below right shoulder (4)Right hip (1)Difficulty during pregnancy (3)

We all prayed for many people. I alone saw healing with these conditions: Shoulder and elbow pain (2 people); chronic pain from a boil; pain from knee to ankle; blurred eyesight with pain from crown to jaw; lower back pain.

In the afternoon, they wanted a seminar so we taught them to pray for each other. Possibly, we had used up all the sicknesses in the morning, perhaps they were too shy, but no one wanted prayer.

Meanwhile, the Masai women of the morning had invited the team plus all the local clergy to evening chai and a blessing of their cattle. When the man of the encampment arrived, Manyka, he was full of generosity. He is not an Christian but allows his wives and children to attend church. He insisted we stay for a feast and wanted to give us each a cattle skin to sleep on that we might leave after breakfast. So we were given more chai, and waited while a goat was killed and prepared for a meal. Then off the bless his cattle and another serving of liver then stew. We got away at 10pm to crash into our beds back at Mwaikisabi.

Monday – Seminar at Mwaikisabi. Wonderfully, Manyka, turned up the seminar. He had been given a Masai megavoice audio Bible, and was either listening to the Bible or the seminar all the time. We think he is not far from the Kingdom of God.In the seminar, I repeated the previous day’s teaching on how to pray for healing. This time, with Words of Knowledge to encourage them, we had about 30 people up for prayer and we got them to pray for each other in groups of three. At the end, 27 people claimed they were healed! We had a child there who was subject to fits (epilepsy?). As she was prayed for, she went out. After some consideration and prayer, we decided to cast out a Deaf and Dumb spirit. At that, she woke up and was able to stand up.

On the drive, back to Kondoa, we dropped the Pastor of the Masai church back to his own village and at his request blessed his church, house and family. Then we came across some Masai by the road. We recognised them and stopped – there was Yeremia and some others again. It felt like a blessed reinforcing of our relationship with them.

Tuesday 22 – Wednesday 23 Rest days.We all had a rest on the Tuesday. Then on Wednesday, Andrew and Paul headed north back to Arusha to fly home. The rest of the team had a needed quiet day. Unfortunately, we picked up a cold and it has worked its way through the team – so rest is good.

The conference started the day after our arrival in Kondoa. We started by presenting the banner, Julie Courtenay had made, which presented the theme verses for the conference, “The Spirit of the LORD is on me, because he has anointed me, to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour.” (Luke 4:18-19 NIV).

We covered the topics: “The Outworking of the Kingdom of God in Is 61”, “The Essential Spirit”, “Jesus Conquers Seven Forms of Death at Nain”, “Prophecy”, “Forgiveness”, “Authority to Heal”, “Blessings and Curses”, and finished with a Question and Answer session. This year, we were addressing the pastors and evangelists in the Bible School. For some, we were consolidating on previous teaching; for others this was new material. We were pleased to see a ready response to the invitation to be filled with the Spirit, to pray for each other for healing and in learning to prophecy to each other.

It is a long flight to Jo'burg from Perth which was followed by 5 hours in transit, the flight to DAR, another 5 hours in transit, 90 minutes to Arusha - we're getting there!One again, Linda and Alan welcomed us to their lovely home and let us rest.On the Monday, Helen took it gently at the base while Lindy, Anne & Ian went into town to exchange currency, get SIM cards and visit the Masai market. We had the help of a useful taxi driver Dixon who was at our call all day as we moved from place to place.In the market, we learnt the old market had been burnt down last year with a total loss. The stall holders had rebuilt it with concrete and steel this time. Ian practised bartering with surprising success and bought some requisite presents.

Helen writes:All is going well. We have arrived in Arusha after a long day's travel yesterday. Ian and the team have gone shopping and I am resting and preparing talks for the conference. Glad to have a bit of down time as yesterday was gruelling travel - midnight, board plane. 10 1/2 hours later, get off in Johannesburg. 5 hours later, board plane to Dar Es Salaam. 2 1/2 hours flying. Get off in Dar, wait 5 hours. Fly one hour, taxi drives one hour to destination. Phew! A bed!!

Tomorrow we drive 5 hours to Kondoa. Then the real fun starts! 3 days of speaking at a clergy conference then 7 days of visiting villages and staying overnight in them... This will be interesting! I savoured my real shower and hair wash this morning. It may not happen again for a couple of weeks.

Please pray for our team as we travel and learn to work closely together.

The trip is starting ... Helen & Ian met Anne and Heather at Auckland Airport. Check in, lunch, final goodbyes and we were off! Good flight to Perth, where we again stayed at the Anarina Lodge. On the Saturday, Lindy met us there having travelled from Queensland.

Patsy, the owner, is a Christian and was very generous to us, allowing us to stay in our rooms until evening on Saturday, so we could use the Lodge for rest, pray, a team meeting and take the opportunity to watch a training DVD together.

That evening, it was back to airport and the long haul to South Africa.

It is Friday morning and we are preparing to head to the airport. The plan is to fly today to Perth, rest a night, then the long hop to Johannesburg and so to DAR and thence to Arusha in Tanzania.Once again, our dear friend Bishop Given has called us to come to teach his clergy, to model and bring healing to the people of his region.

This is our third visit. As last time we are combining with Andrew Alan-Johns, the Vicar of Rangiora, who has a great deal of Short Term Mission experience and a similar commitment to support Kondoa Diocese.

The 3rd STM to Kondoa

A team from the parish returns to Kondoa Diocese with another from Christchurch: visiting our friends and teaching at their Diocesan Ministry conference.